The genital wart diagnosis is often made by taking a history from the patient and doing a physical examination. The patient may schedule a doctor's appointment for a complaint of new bumps in the genital or anal area. Another common patient complaint is that of itching around the vaginal opening or the anal area. In these cases and at times on routine examination small, warty appearing growths are found. In men the genital wart diagnosis can be made when these growths are seen on the penis, both the head and the shaft, the scrotum and around the anus.
In women the genital wart diagnosis maybe from a visual inspection of the skin of the vulva (area around the vagina) or the skin around the anus when the genital warts can appear. At times in women the genital warts are totally without symptoms because they are inside the vagina or on the cervix. The genital wart diagnosis is made in this situation by visual inspection and biopsy if they are large enough to be seen. Also the genital wart diagnosis may be made due to cells that appear on a Pap smear.
At times the genital warts are too small to be seen by the unaided eye. In these cases magnification is used after the area has been washed with a 4% acetic acid solution (the same concentration as vinegar.) In men a magnifying glass or optical loops will help to identify the genital warts. In women a procedure called colposcopy is often used to aid in the genital wart diagnosis. A colposcope looks a bit like binoculars on a stand. After rinsing the vagina and cervix with the very dilute acetic acid solutions an inspection with the colposcope accompanied by biopsies of suspicious areas can make the genital wart diagnosis.